Going Green: How Hugging a Tree is Good for Health

These days, going green has become a part of our culture.  Being asked, “Paper or plastic?” seems socially shameful.  Drinking bottled water has become politically incorrect.  Hemp clothing, faux fur, and recycled shoes are mainstream fashion.  Household cleaners turned into botanicals, and recycled toilet paper claims you can save the world.  Preparing dinner begins with a visit to your back yard and riding your bike to work seems trendy, not that you have a suspended license.   Just about everyone is jumping on to take a ride on the green wagon.  Although protection of the earth’s environment has always been a concern, what once was viewed as a radical anti-logging movement has now shifted into a cause worthy of attention from government, corporations, activists, and can even benefit my personal health.  Who knew that hugging a tree could be healthy for me?

            A notable figure in American government, known as the “Conservationist President” was Theodore Roosevelt, serving from 1901 until 1909.  During presidency, he preserved parks, forests, and wildlife accumulating to 230 million acres of land (National Park Service (NPS), 2010).  Over time, government focus shifted from preservation of land and wildlife, to consumer product and food safety, developing organizations such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) along with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).  Catostrophic disasters outraging the public like Donora, Love Canal, Three Mile Island,  and the Exxon Valedez oil spill in the 1980’s, catapolted federal government to take swift action stretching far beyond local forests to more global formations such as the oceans and neighboring lands (Sara, 2006-2011).

            With the passing of environmental acts and federal policies to protect consumers and the earth, the spotlight began to shine on corporations, exposing sinful secrets of dumping, waste, toxic chemicals, and unneccesary destruction to animal habitats and earth’s environment.  As more corporations were held responsible for their impact on the environment, a new niche of marketing took root.  Companies seeing opportunity that promoting a dying earth, melting glaciers, extinction of species, shortage of natural resources like oil and coal, would create a frenzy to purchase eco-friendly, earth saving products to avert another epic disaster.  Marketing shifted from products that fed narcissitic need to empowering people to participate in saving the world.  By promoting more expensive, eco-packaged, organic, energy-efficient, and non-carbon footprinting products, the green industry has profited into a recession-proof industry that continues to create jobs and wealth.

            Once thought of as a cult-like movement built on hippie beliefs and hysteria, environmental activists who stood up against the destruction of the earth’s property has been joined by thousands of other believer.  The term “tree-hugger” no longer carries a negative connotation.  Stewardship of the earth’s sustainability has gone from extremist groups hugging trees to peaceful organizations and individuals who promote caring for the earth and environment as part of the human responsibility.  Non-profit organizations cultivating naturally grown foods, enriched soils, earth-friendly housing materials, and sustainable energy, have spread far beyond political territory, developing into evangelical and social movements.  Protests, pleas, and radical chants are no longer shouted in far away forests, but are subtly being introduced into our everyday lives.

            As a result of the going green trend, more emphasis has been placed on individual actions, that in accumulation, can have a big impact on the future health of our earth.  Popularity of individual responsibility grew with the release of the documentary film, “An Inconveniant Truth”, which states that global destruction impacts all of us, and small actions multiplied by billions of people will create a concerted positive change for the planet  (Guggenheim, 2006).

Switching out lightbulbs, taking lukewarm showers, walking to work, planting a tree, and refraining from eating meat, are a few of the tips that the documentary suggests.  By inconveinancing ourselves of the conveinances offered to us, we may be able to cure the climate crisis and take moral responsibility for the ever-changing earth. 

            Most of us do not have endangered species nesting in our back yard.  When we look up at the blue sky, we do not see a gaping hole indicating a thinning ozone layer.  While driving home from the office, the last thing we think of  is the amount of harmful smog leaking through the exhaust of our car.  And, when we see a bee, our first thought is not that there will be less honey or pollenation after we swat it to its’ death.  The association of our individual choices and the impact and consequence of those choices on the global environment continues to remain separated.  So, how does going green benefit me?

            Altough doing your part to save the world is a noble cause, most people do not readily change habits or lifestyle unless benefits them.  New reasons have emerged that going green will make a difference where it matters…in my wallet, and in my weight.  According to an article presented by the website eHow Health.com, (Hawkins & Contributor, 2010) going green has financial benefits and health benefits.  Lowered energy use equals lower bills.  Walking to work rather than driving will save money on gas and burn calories.  Environments with less air pollution and toxins, reduce the risk of developing chronic respiratory problems.  Consumption of organic foods, a popular way to participate in the green movement, keep you from ingesting harmful pesticides and herbicides, while supporting local farmers. 

            From ancient times to modern day culture, the responsibility of caring for the earth that sustains us with the warmth of the sun, the rains for our food, and the nourishment for our soil, remains a responsibility that we all bear.  The popularity of going green directly correlates to the state that the earth is in today.  Rising costs of food and oil, frequency of disasterous weather, and threats of sustainability of an exploding population can not call for action from just a portion of people.  Government can place laws for protection, corporations can reform, and environmentalists continue to relay the urgent message, but individuals have developed what once was thought of as inconceivable, into an every day, practical choice that makes a difference for themselves, for Earth, and for the future. 

References

     Bender, L. (Producer), & Guggenheim, D. (Director). (2006). An Inconveniant Truth [Motion Picture]. United States: Paramount Home Enterainment.

     Hawkins, E., & Contributor, e. (2010, April 24). Why is Going Green Important for me & my Future? Retrieved April 9, 2011, from eHow Health: http://www.ehow.com/about_6382052_going-green-important-_amp_-future_.html